Settling tank for crude oil



Nov. 6, 1951 D. H. LEWIS ET AL SETTLING TANK FOR CRUDE OIL w Fild Dec. 5, 1949 Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SETTLING TANK FOR CRUDE OIL Application December 5, 1949, Serial No. 131,154

'l Claims.

This invention relates to a, settling tank yfor the removal of suspended` solids or an immiscible liquid from liquids, and pertains more particularly to an improved settler for removing particles of solid material or water from petroleum pipe line streams.

It is often desirable to remove the solid particles or immiscible liquids that are carried by crude oil or petroleum products when it is pumped through a pipe line. For example, crude oil being pumped at the rate of 500 barrels per hour may carry about 0.1 pound of solid material per thousand barrels. This material tends to clog metering instruments and other pipe line equipment.

A common method of removing the solid material from crude oil comprises passing the crude oil through a strainer equipped with lG-mesh wire screen. Strainers of this type have a low eciency as they are capable of removing only the particles of solid material that are 0.050 inch or larger, permitting a, large percentage of the total solids to remain in the flow stream. Strainers are also limited in capacity and have to be cleaned frequently. As the screens of a strainer begin to clog, the crude oil ow therethrough is retarded with a resulting increase in pressure differential existing across the strainer. Also, when a strainer is being used, there is always a possibility of a screen or filter pad coll lapsing under a high-pressure drop.

The fundamental principle underlylng'the use of a settling tank for removing solids or suspended immiscible liquid from a suspending liquid,

such as solid particles or water from crude, lies in taking advantage ofthe difference in gravity between the solid particles (or water) and the gravity of the liquid. A moving body of liquid will carry along with ita fairly constant amount of suspended solids depending principally upon the velocity of ow, the density and the particle size of the solid. For a given liquid at a substantially constant temperature and a given finely divided solid, the important variable factor is the velocity of flow. Assuming that there is an appreciable difference in density between the solids and the liquid, the suspended solids or liquid may be largely removed from a rapidly flowing body of liquid by creating a zone in which the rate of flow and the turbulence are very small.

It is, therefore, an object of'this invention to provide an improved settling tank for the removal of solid particles and/or water from crude oil and petroleum flow streams.

It is also an object of the present invention to providea settling tank having a large throughput capacity and requiring less frequent cleaning.

Another object of this invention is to provide a settling tank for a crude oil pipe line whose operation results in only a small pressure drop in the line, there being, furthermore, no pressure built up if the cleaning oi' the tank is delayed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a sturdy settling tank that is not injured or made inoperative by a high pressure surge.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with reference to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal View in cross section of the'present settling tank illustrating the nested or concentric arrangement of the distributor pipes or conduits.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical cross section taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical cross section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view in longitudinal cross section of another embodiment of a distributor and baille unit of the present settling tank.

Figure 5 is a view in vertical cross section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, the present settling tank may be of any suitable shape and is shown as a horizontal, substantially cylindrical vessel I I having a closed convex end I2 and an open end I3 which is normally closed by a high pressure head or plate I4 secured to the vessel in a fluid-tight manner by any suitable means, as by bolts I5.

Fixedly secured, as by welding, to the inside wall of the vessel l I near the open end I3 thereof is an internal flange I6 adapted to seat a plate I'I thereagainst in a substantially fluid-tight manner, said plate I'I forming transverse wall means dividing the Vessel II into two chambers I8 and I9. The chambers may be of any size but preferably chamber I9 is at least four times as long as chamber I8.

As shown in Figure 2, the vessel I I is provided with an inlet port 20 leading through the wall thereof into chamber I8. Chambers I8 and ISI are in communication through a plurality of concentric or nested inlet pipes or conduits 2|, 22 and 23 extending horizontally through plate I1. The pipes, for example, may be standard 6, 8 and lil-inch pipe. The outer pipe 2| extends substantially the entire length of chamber I9 and is closed at its extended end by a plate 24. The pipe 2I is supported above the bottom of the vessel II by plates II and 24, and, if desired, by one or more additional plates 25 or other support means. Fluid f lilowing into pipe 2l is discharged in a horizontal direction through suitable port means,

in fixed spaced relationship by support and spac- 'l ing elements 3| and 32 (Figures 2 and 3). innermost pipe 23 extends approximately two- TheA thirds the distance to the closed end of the slotted pipe 2|, While the intermediate pipe 22 extends approximately one-third of that distance. By staggering the length of the inlet pipes 22 and 23 in this manner, a substantially uniform distribution of the inlet flow along the slotted pipe 2| is obtained. While the present invention is described as having three concentric inlet pipes or distributor conduits 2|, 22 and 23, it is obvious that any desired number of pipes, such as from two to six, may be arranged concentrically with the extended` ends of said pipes extending varying distances into the slotted outer pipe. "Afxed in any suitable manner, as by Welding, to the ends of inlet pipes 2 I, 22 and 23 that extend into chamber I8, are three vertical inlet standpipes 33, 34 and 35, respectively equal in diameter to pipes 2 I, 22 and 23, and preferably extending to a level above that of the inlet port 28 (Figure 2). Thus, the standpipes 33, 34 and 35 serve as baffle means for removing'the larger solid particles of material' from the fluid flow stream, causing said particles to settle to the bottom of chamber 8.

^ The outer conduit 2| is provided with a pair of substantially `horizontal flow-directing vanes 31 and 38 which are suitably secured, as by Welding to the outer surface of said conduit 2| just above the discharge slots 2B and 21 therein. If desired, the vanes '31 and 38 may tilt upwards slightly and be curved slightly at the outer ends (as shown in Figure 3) so as to permit a smooth flow of liquid as it rises past the ends of the vanes. The function of vanes 31 and 38 is to lengthen the travel of the iluid within the chamber I9, thus giving suspended materials more time to settle out. Preferably, a baille (Figures 1 and 3) 39 is mounted and secured between plates I1 and 25 and above the bottom of the chamber, said baffle serving to prevent any settled solid particles in the bottom of the tank from being agitated and re-suspended by the influent stream. Sulllcient room is provided on either side of said baille 39 to permit sediment to settle below it.

Outlet ports 40, 4| and 42 are provided in the top of the vessel for the removal of the substantially solid-free liquid from chamber I9. Obviously, a greater or lesser number of outlet ports may be provided. The total cross sectional area of the outlet ports 40, 4| and 42 is at least as great and preferably greater than that of the inlet port 20. A plurality of outlet ports spaced uniformly along the top of said vessel is preferred to permit the fluid within the chamber I 9 to be discharged from all portions thereof at a substantially uniform rate. The several outlet ports 40, 4| and 42 may be connected to a common Vheader pipe which, in turn, may be connected to a pipe line (not shown). The Vessel I I may also be provided with one or more drain parts 5| which are normally closed in any suitable manner as by blank flanges 52, valves, or the like. It is to be noted that the present settling tank comprises three units: (1) the vessel or tank with its internal flange I6, (2) the removable end plate or pressure head I4, and (3) the distributor and baille unit comprising the concentric conduits 2|, 22 and 23 with the attached standpipes 33, 34 and 35 together with plates I1, 24 and 25, vanes 26 and 21and baille 39. Thus, it may be seen that the distributor and baille unit may be readily removed as such from the vessel l|| after removing the pressure head I4, which facilitates periodic cleaning of the settling tank. To facilitate the removal of the pressure head I4 and the distributor unit for cleaning sediment from the settling tank, the tank II may be mounted in an elevated horizontal position on suitable support means, as for example, on cement saddles 58 (Figure 1) .l

The diameter of the outer distributor conduit 2|"is less than one-half, and preferably about one-fourth that of the vessel I I. The concentric distributor conduits 2|, 22 and 23 may be positioned coa'xially within the vessel I I but are preferably positioned as shown with the major portion of said conduits being below the center line of the vessel II and the flow-directing Varies 31 and 38 located so that the outer tips thereof are substantially at the greatest horizontal width of the vessel.

' While the intake of the distributor unit preferably comprises a plurality of concentric standpipes 33, 34 and 35, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, another embodiment of the distributor and baille unit may comprise a single standpipe 43 welded to a conduit 44 as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The conduit 44 is equipped with a longitudinal slot 45 and communicates with either side of a transverse plate 4621s described with the previous embodiment. Fixedly positioned within said conduit 44 in spaced coaxial relationship therewith are two inner conduits 41 and 48 of successively smaller diameters that are similar in size, shape and purpose to conduits 22 and 23, previously described. The conduits 44, 41 and 48 may be ilxedly spaced from each other by suitable spacing elements or spiders 49.

When the present settling tank is connected into a crude oil pipe line, the upstream end of said pipe line is connected to the flanged inlet port 20 of the tank Il and the downstream end of said pipe line is connected to the outlet ports 40, 4| and 42. In operation, fluid is fed into chamber |8 f (Figure 1) of the settling tank through the inlet port 20 (Figure 2). Due to the vertical position and height of the intake standpipes 33, 34 and 35, the fluid flow is forced to rise to the top of the chamber I8 before entering the open end of the standpipes of the distributor units. The bailling action of these standpipes causes any large particles of solid matter to settle out of the liquid and accumulate at the bottom of the chamber I8.

- The unique nested construction of the distributor pipes 2|, 22 and 23 assures substantially uniform flow along conduit 2| and discharge therefrom. Fluid entering the annular space between standpipes 33 and 34 and flowing between conduits 2| and 22 is discharged through the portions of the slots 26 and 21 in conduit 2| that are substantially adjacent conduit 22. Likewise, iluid entering the annular spacebetween conduits 34 and 35 is discharged through the portions of the slots 26fand 21 that are adjacent conduit 23. Fluid passing through standpipe 35 and conduit 23 is discharged through the portions of slots 26 and 21 that extend beyond the end of conduit 35.

Since the discharge slots 26 and 21 are cut horizontally along opposite sides of .conduit 2l, uid is discharged from said .conduit 2'1 :in two thin layers, the new being Vin 2a 4horizontal :direction which does not tend to promoteturbulence. At the same time, the flow is Yfurther directed lby the substantially horizontal varies itl vand 38, towards the zone of maximum diameter and a'rea where the velocity of 'llowwithin the'tank is at a minimum. A. now directed vertically upward from conduit 'il-i would tendtofopposethesettling of the solid material; Aa flow directed vertically downward would tend to Vag'itate Tand ire-'suspend any solid material whichhad accumulated on the bottom of the tank. l

It is apparent that for a settling tank to hperate, the velocity of the iiowing fluid'l'ayer andthe thickness of the layer must be such that tlresuspended particles may fall through the flayer'in the Vtime between Vthe formation of the layer and the discharge of the iluid from the top of the vessel. The thickness of the .layer yof fluid 4may be governed to some extentby the ysise of Vthe discharge slots 26 and 2l', which in a IO-inch pipe, lor exam-ple, are about '2 inches in height.

To illustrate the above, the following calculations are included. As the layers of fluid flow from the discharge slots 20 and '21, they move almost horizontally along the bottom surfaces of the directing vanes 3l and 38, turning into the vertical passages between the ends of the'vanes and the walls of the vessel l l. The only sush pended parti-cles that get into the upper portion of the tank are those whose settlingvelocities are slower than the velocity of the iiuid at the tips of the Yvaries 3l and-3b.

Using the flow formula Q =V, where Q equals iiow in cubic feet per second, A equals area in square feet and V equals velocity in 'feet-persecond, the velocity at the vane tips for a 'flow of 100 barrels per hour through a settler having a suitable new cross-section area mayv have a Value such as .0554 fcot'per second.

Where the flowing velocity cf liluid is small and streamlined or viscous flow exists, Stokes law (for the movement of particles suspended in a viscous medium) is applicable.

where V equals velocity of settling in feetper second, D equals diameter of particle .in inches, S equals density of particle in pounds per cubic foot, S1 equals density of fluid in pounds per cub-ic foot `and Z equals viscosity of the uid in oentipoises.

For mixed Texas crude oil of a viscosity of 6 centipoises and an API gravity of l36.4" at 60 F., the diameter of the smallest spherical quartz particle (sp. gr. equals 2.65) which would maintain equilibrium at a iiow rate of 100 barrels per hour, is accordingly D=0.003ll or l/32l inch For the same crude oil and using similar calculations, the velocities and particle sizes for other flow rates are as follows:

For 350 barrels per hour:

V 0.0467 foot per second D 0.00577 0r 1/1'13 inch For 500 barrels per hour:

, V 0.0667 foot per second 1 DA 0.00695 or 1./144 inch.

.6 Forlbobarrels per hour:

V .0.134 foot per second D r: 0.00983 0r 1/102 inch 'Ihe eil'iciency of the present settler at various flow rates while operating in a crude oil stream Whose solid material content is 0.1165 pound `per thousand barrels 'is as follows:

. Flow Rate Eiciency Barrels vPer Hour Per Cent lItmay be seen that `a settler according to the present invention can be designed for any effe ciency at any flow rate from these data and the design data previously given.

The invention Aclaimed is:

1. A settling tank comprising a horizontally disposed cylindrical vessel having at least one open end, removable head means normally closing said end in fluid-tight manner, an annular flange member spaced from said head means ailixed to the inner walls of said vessel in a plane perpendioular to the axis thereof, a :Fluid distributor unit insertable into said vessel through the open end thereof, said unit comprising a circular plate member adapted to register with said annular flange to divide said vessel into a first and a second fluid-tight chamber, fluid distributor conduit means extendingfrom said iirst into said second chamber through said plate member and ailixed to said plate member, said conduit means comprising an outer tubular -means having a generally Ver-tical axis in the first chamber and a horizontal axis in the `second chamber, horizontal slot means vin said tubular means `in the second chamber, inner tubular means extending concentrically within said outer tubular means at least through a portionof their length in the second chamber, iiuid inlet means through the walls of said vessel to said iirst chamber, and fluid outlet means through the walls of said ve'ssel from said second chamber.

2. A vsettling tank comprising a horizontally disposed cylindrical vessel having at least one open end, removable head means normally `closing said end in huid-tight manner, an annular flange member spaced from said head means affixed to the inner walls of said vessel in a plane perpendicular to the axis thereof, a iluid distributor unit insertable into said vessel 'through the open Vend thereof, said unit comprising a circular plate member adapted to register with said annular flange to divide said vessel into a iirst and a second fluid-tight chamber, iiuid distributor conduit means extending from said first into said second chamber' through `said plate member and affixed to said plate member, said conduit means oom-v prising an `outer tubular member having a gene' erally vertical axis in the iirst chamber and a horizontal laxis inthe second chamber, .horizontal slot means in said 'tubular member in the second chamber, now-directing varies 'affixed to said outer tubular means above said horiiorital slot means, at least one inner tubular means member extend ing'concentrically within cuter tubular inember at least throughout a portion therecf in the second chamber, 'uid inlet means through the side walls o `said vessel to said first chamber through which fluid enters said chamber in a substantially horizontal direction,` and iluid out@ let' means through the walls of said vessel iro'm saidsecond chamber. n 1;, z j

3. A settling tank comprising a horizontally disposed cylindrical vessel having at least one open end, removable head means normally closing said end in fluid-tight manner, an annular ange member spaced from said head means affixed to the inner Walls of said vessel in a plane perpendicular to the axis thereof, a fluid distributor unit insertable into said vessel through the open end thereof, said unit comprising a circular plate member adapted to register with said annular flange to divide said vessel into a rst and a second fluid-tight chamber, fluid distributor conduit means extending from said first into said second chamber through said plate member and aiiixed to said plate member, said conduit means comprising an outer tubular member having a generally vertical axis in the rst chamber and a horizontal axis in the second chamber, horizontal slots in the side Walls of said tubular member in the second chamber, said outer tubular member being closed at the end Within the second chamber, substantially horizontal now-directing varies aixed to said outer tubular member above said horizontal slots, two inner tubular members extending concentrically Within said outer tubular member, said innermost and intermediate tubular members being open-ended and extending Within said portion of the outer tubular member in said second chamber substantially two-thirds and one-third the length thereof, respectively, fluid inlet means through the side walls of said vessel forY directing a iiow of fluid in substantially a horizontal direction into said rst chamber, and fluid outlet means through the Walls of said vessel from said second chamber.

4. A settling tank comprising a horizontally disposed cylindrical vessel having at least one open end, removable head means normally closing said end in fluid-tight manner, an annular flange member spaced from said head means afiixed to the inn-er walls of said vessel in a plane perpendiculuar to the axis thereof, a fluid distributor unit insertable into said vessel through the open end thereof, said unit comprising a circular plate member adapted to register with said annular flange to divide said vessel into a rst and second fluid-tight chamber, iluid distributor conduit means extending from said first into said second chamber through said plate member and aixed to said plate member, said conduit means comprising an outer tubular member having a generally vertical axis in the first chamber and a horizontal axis in the second chamber, said horizontal portion of said outer tubular member being spaced from the bottom thereof and having a closed end, horizontal slot means in the side Walls of said tubular member in the second chamber, substantially horizontal flow-directing vanes ailixed to said outer tubular member above said horizontal slot means, flow baling means positioned below said distributor conduit means for minimizing agitation within the bottom of the Vessel, a plurality of inner tubular members of progressively smaller diameters extending concentrically within said outer tubular member, and terminating at spaced points within the horizontal portion of the outer tubular member in the second chamber, fluid inlet means through the walls of said vessel for directing the ow of uid in substantially a horizontal direction into said rst chamber, and fluid outlet means through the Walls of said vessel from said second chamber.

5. A settling tank comprising a horizontally disposed substantially cylindrical vessel, transverse vertical plate means dividing said vessel into rst and second duid-tight chambers, inlet port means through the Wall of said vessel into said first chamber, outlet port means through the Wall of said vessel from the second chamber, horizontal fluid distributor conduit means extending from the rst chamber and through the transverse plate means into said second chamber, said rst and second chambers being in communication through said distributor means, said distributor conduit means comprising a plurality of concentric pipes of progressively smaller diameters, the outer pipe having a closed end and having outlet port means through the side walls substantially the length thereof, the concentric pipes of smaller diameter Within said outer conduit means being open-ended and shorter in length than said outer conduit means to give an even distribution of iluid from said iluid outlet port means into said second chamber, and bafe means comprising standpipe means secured to said horizontal distributor conduit means Within the ilrst chamber.

6. A settling tank comprising a horizontally disposed substantially cylindrical vessel, transverse vertical plate means dividing said vessel into rst and second duid-tight chambers, inlet port means through the Wall of said vessel into said first chamber, outlet port means through the wall of said vessel from the second chamber, horizontal fluid distributor conduit means extending from the first chamber and through the transverse plate means into said second chamber, said first and second chambers beingin communication through said distributor means, said distributor conduit means comprising a plurality of concentric pipes of progressively smaller diameters, the outer pipe having a closed end and having slotted outlet ports through the side Walls Within the second chamber substantially the length thereof, the concentric pipes of smaller diameter within said outer conduit means being open-ended and shorter in length than said outer conduit means to give an even distribution of uid from said fluid outlet ports into said second chamber, and baffle means comprising concentric standpipe means secured to said horizontal distributor conduit means Within the rst chamber with the axis of the standpipe means substantially perpendicular to the axis of the inlet port means to said first chamber.

7. A settling tank comprising a horizontally disposed substantially cylindrical vessel, said vessel having one end normally closed by removable plate means, transverse vertical plate means dividing said vessel into rst and second fluid-tight chambers, said second chamber having a greater axial length than said first chamber, inlet port means through the side Wall of said vessel for directing a ow of fluid in a substantially horizontal plane into said rst chamber, a plurality of outlet ports through the top of said vessel from the second chamber, horizontal fluid distributor conduit means extending from the first chamber and through the transverse plate means into said second chamber, said rst and second chambers being in communication through said distributor means, support means for positioning said distributor conduit means substantially intermediate the bottom of said vessel and a horizontal plane passing through the axis thereof, said distributor conduit means comprising a plurality of concentric pipes of progressively smaller diameters, the outer pipe having a closed end in said second chamber and having slots through the side vwalls substantially the length thereof,4 substantially horizontal fluid directing vanes afxed to said outer pipe above said slots, horizontal plate means secured between said support means below said slotted outer pipe for minimizing the agitation in the bottom of the vessel, the conduit means of smaller diameter Within said outer conduit means being openended and shorter in length than said outer conduit means to give an even distribution of fluid from said fluid outlet ports into said second chamber, and baie means comprising concentric standpipe means respectively secured to the pipes of said distributor conduit' means Within the rst chamber, the open end of said standpipe means extending to a level above that of said inlet port means of said vessel.

DONALD H. LEWIS.

ADIN H. HALL.

JOHN E. GREEN.

l0 REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 974,717 Sphaler et al Nov. 1, 1910 995,521 Buhr June 20, 1911 1,116,903 McClintock Nov. 10, 1914 10 2,355,305 Roenig Aug. 8, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 748,346 France Apr. 10, 1933 

